Politics · Italy · 2 hrs ago
Mattarella says cultural differences strengthen integration and democracy
Italian President Sergio Mattarella said cultural differences do not prevent integration during a meeting at the Quirinal Palace on 9 November.
He met Albanian President Bajram Begaj and mayors from communities of Arbëreshë, people in Italy with Albanian roots.
Mattarella said these communities show how people can keep their language and roots while taking part fully in Italian life.
Italy’s Constitution protects linguistic minorities, and a 1999 law put that principle into effect.
Mattarella called pluralism a cornerstone of democracy and said respecting different cultures is part of Europe’s founding principles.
He said Italy considers the EU incomplete without Albania and other candidate countries.
He hopes they will join soon, describing enlargement as a project for peace, freedom and progress.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella said cultural, linguistic and historical differences should not be an obstacle to integration.
He said people can keep their roots while contributing to a new community.
Mattarella made the remarks after meeting Albanian President Bajram Begaj and mayors from Arbëreshë communities.
He said pluralism is a cornerstone of democracy and cited Italy’s constitutional protection of linguistic minorities.
Mattarella said the European Union would remain incomplete until Albania and other candidate countries join.
- Who
- Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Albanian President Bajram Begaj and mayors from Arbëreshë communities.
- What
- Mattarella said attachment to one’s culture, roots and language does not hinder integration.
- When
- November 9, 2026.
- Where
- The Quirinal Palace in Rome.
- Why
- Mattarella was discussing the friendship between Italy and Albania and the history of Arbëreshë communities.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mattarella told Begaj in their conversation that Italy would consider the European Union incomplete until Albania and other candidate countries join.
Mattarella met Begaj and mayors from Arbëreshë communities and spoke about integration and cultural differences.
- Italian president
- Sergio Mattarella
- Albanian president
- Bajram Begaj
- Meeting place
- Quirinal Palace
- Students of Albanian origin in Italian schools
- 118,000
- Constitutional provision
- Article 6 protects linguistic minorities
- EU candidates mentioned
- Albania and other candidate countries
2 sources
What people are saying
Attaccamento alla propria cultura, alle proprie radici, alla propria lingua non pregiudicano affatto l'integrazione nella vita di una nuova comunità e contribuiscono, anzi, in modo fecondo al suo sviluppo
L’attaccamento alla propria cultura, alle proprie radici, alla propria lingua non pregiudicano affatto l’integrazione nella vita di una nuova comunità e contribuiscono anzi, in modo fecondo, al suo sviluppo
Dicevo poc’anzi al Presidente Begaj, nel nostro colloquio, che l’Italia considererà sempre incompleta, mutilata, l’Unione Europea finché non ne faranno parte, mi auguro prestissimo, l’Albania e gli altri Paesi candidati